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Predators, Penguins adamant fatigue is not an issue in Stanley Cup final

The likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin ought to be exhausted, running on adrenaline if not on fumes, but they are not.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have played alot of hockey in the past year. And even with the World Cup tossed in for good measure, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin both say they don't feel the slightest bit tired. (Justin K. Aller / GETTY IMAGES)

PITTSBURGH—A long run to last year’s Stanley Cup win, a short summer, a World Cup, a grinding regular season and now another long run to the Cup final.

The likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin ought to be exhausted, running on adrenaline if not on fumes, but they are not.

“When you come this far you feel good,” said Crosby. “I feel good. You just keep going. There’s a lot of motivation here.”

The Penguins and Nashville Predators are tied 2-2 in the Stanley Cup final, with Game 5 set for Thursday in Pittsburgh. In a series as close as this, the difference could come down to intangibles, like which team is better rested, or which team is hungrier for victory.

Crosby, of course, is the voice of the Penguins, and as such is the voice of reason, the voice of belief, the voice of motivation.

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Malkin, meanwhile, has turned into something of a clown prince, holding media scrums as big as Crosby’s and often for longer. Asked the same question about a short summer and whether the long season has been exhausting, Malkin offered a slightly different take.

“We had a short summer but it was a fun summer,” said Malkin.

“When you win, it’s so much fun. I know people say we’re tired, but (the Predators are) tired too. So it’s not like only we’re tired. It’s just only thinking of playoff life.

“We don’t talk about (being) tired. It’s only like 180 minutes to (go), and it’s just like play right, you know? We have four good lines, we have young guys, they fly, and I’m not tired myself. I want to play because it’s so much fun right now, you know? Because we play in the final, you know? I’m not feeling tired, I feel excited (for Game 5). I can’t wait.”

The Penguins worked out Wednesday at their practice facility in suburban Cranberry; the Predators flew to Pittsburgh in the afternoon.

The Preds could arguably be the more rested team, as they’ve played three fewer playoff games. And they had a much longer summer of rest-and-recovery last year. Defenceman P.K. Subban — alluding to an in-season injury that kept him out of the lineup — said rest is not an issue.

“I had a about six weeks off,” Subban said.

“Our schedule has been good this playoffs,” said Nashville defenceman Roman Josi. “First round, we had almost a week off. That helped us with rest.”

But if exhaustion is not an issue for either team, perhaps motivation is. Most of the Penguins have won a Stanley Cup. None of the Predators have, but none would say they were hungrier for it than Crosby and Co.

“If two teams get to this point, they’re both hungry for the Cup,” said Predators coach Peter Laviolette. “Our guys are hungry, but we respect the fact they’ve done it, and they’re hungry. We have to play a game and decide who’s going to get it.

“You don’t get to this point if you’re team is not ready and hungry and prepared and ready to do whatever it takes,” said Nashville captain Mike Fisher, who has been to the Cup final once before, as an Ottawa Senator in 2007, and understands what both teams have gone through to get here.

“It’s a grind,” said Fisher. “They’ve gone through three tough teams and so have we. We’re here for reason. Part of that is the hunger, the desire for the Cup. For them, it’s another Cup. For us, it’s a first Cup. At the end of the day, it’s a Cup. Everyone wants that.

“That’s what we all as kids dreamed about, regardless of how many. That’s a special thing. It means a lot. That’s what it’s going to come down to the next few days.”

Ah yes, in just a few days it could all be over. If the series the distance, Game 7 will be played Wednesday June 14.

“The most fun is there’s just three games left,” said Malkin.

“I mean, it’s close. It’s fun to play here, play at home, whole family here, every player, parents, grandmothers. It’s fun to see everyone is here, everyone to support us. Of course it’s not easy, of course everyone’s tired, but we’re having fun.

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